Okay, this is welcome, everyone. This is our intro cafe to the visioning what is our vision for setting up an empathy based center Retreat Center in Santa Barbara, we have a small group here, everyone's familiar with the empathy circle practice. So we can just go right into it. Generally, if you had other people, I was going to just introduce myself, do a welcome of our intention, which is to raise the level of empathy, listening and openness and care in society, and in ourselves, and society. And these are the values that really foster greater well being. And so we want to promote that we're doing the empathy circle practice, which I find is the most effective first step by gateway practice for building that intention of a more empathic society. And we also have a training that people can take part in at empathy, best empathy training.com. So that's like a website for our six week empathy training. And our circle here has been an introduction to the empathy circle practice to take part in the training, you take part into these intro circles, and we're having a different focus, we're focusing on a vision for this retreat center. And I'm going to just give a quick view of it. If you go to Pinellas center can know is center.com. There's a website for this retreat center. This is a retreat center, my brother purchased in Santa Barbara, California, it's on 35 acres of land. It has a bunch of buildings, 55,000 square feet of buildings. And you can go to the tour button. And that gives you a tour of the property of the current state of the property. And there's also a Google Earth map there that you can take a look at. And if you click on that, it shows you the property. It's on top of the hill. This was previously a Catholic seminary, and my brother purchased it just several months ago, and he asked me to manage it. So we're going to be setting up an empathy center there. And it's, it backs up to the hills of Santa Barbara. So National Forest. And this is Santa Barbara, you can see here, and it's only this it's somewhat remote, but it's only 10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara. So in a pretty amazing location. And our goal is to make an empathy center there to hold workshops and all kinds of programs that promote more empathic society. And so we want to do here is have an empathy circle on that question. Let me just post the question in the chat is what is your vision for an empathy based Retreat Center in Santa Barbara or whatever is live for you. And since everybody is familiar with the process, we can just get started if someone wants to take time to timekeeping, like five minute turns. So who'd like to start? Oh, you said Larry held his hands up. Okay, let's just get started. Pick your listener and let's get started. Well, maybe just go for an hour and a half or so 90 minutes, and we'll see earlier
okay, I had an idea. I said, Okay, I have my camera.
Yeah, just select your listener.
Okay. And I'm just gonna start with you listening. I just had a news flash of my, oh, maybe you're not gonna like just but to have concert in maybe, you know, peace concerts where there's, you know, just a relationship between the group and the concept of empathy and peace and music and fundraisers. So I'm just throwing that out there.
So your first idea you think that maybe I won't like it, but you're thinking it's creating concerts, their sort of peace conference and not a conference peace concerts. So having music
Yeah, everyone on the line. And just great sound system dynamics, and I don't know, maybe related to a retreat, where people are coming in from all over the world to and make it like an annual music Alliance related to peace and certain types of music that, you know, may come from Tibet in India, maybe actually out multi cultural musical alliances.
Okay, thank you maybe a multicultural music sort of event, from people from all different cultures coming to and the topic being creating peace.
Yeah, and along the same lines, this is very similar to what I experienced at Caltrans to California is we have a diversity day. And on the diversity days, or be this wonderful, everyone from all the different parts of the world would share food from, you know, that island or that country.
So you're also imagining like a diversity day where people bring different types of foods, maybe from their own culture to it, so it could be Island food, or just from any different culture.
And that's also but actually part of the experience, the days, you know, might be having an annual get together, where, you know, multicultural music and food.
Yeah, could be like, every year could be an annual event where you have multicultural event and food and maybe even music to
exactly, I feel fully heard.
Okay, then I'll speak to a bill. Listening. Yeah, I talked to a permaculturist yesterday. And the idea is to make the the center of permaculture center for that. So with gardening and sort of a whole land Integrated Food gardening. Center. Yeah.
So you had talked to a permaculturist yesterday. And essentially, the idea would be to make the retreat center part of an ongoing sustainable, you know,
concern. Yeah. And it permaculture ties in with empathy in the sense that permaculture and regenerative agriculture is, is sort of being more sensitive to the environment. So it's sort of like empathizing with the environment versus a domination. Like, we're just going to impose something that you sort of, it's more of Larry's got his heart, I'm more of an integrated, a listening relationship, deeper relationship with the land.
Yeah. And you see a very good synergy, or between permaculture and empathy in the sense that permaculture and is like, kind of listening to nature, listening to the land, and creating something in harmony with it, rather than just trying to what dominate it.
Exactly. Yeah. So I'm trying to get excited about that because I like gardening and like the physicality of it. So I have some excitement around it. And he also something an idea is, you know, empathy. We have empathy sensing into someone's experience as well as imaginative empathy where you take on a role and I had some ideas for that role playing empathy.
So you really excited about the Permaculture is good, you love to garden you like the physicality of it. It engages you in a different modality than simply just speaking. And then you're also getting some new ideas for roleplays.
And it was he said, Imagine yourself at the center and five years, what is the experience that you imagine? I thought that'd be a great exercise for our volunteers team. How do you make How do you see yourself in five years in relationship to the center. And so my brains are starting to sort of click, you know, around that idea, and also is for us doing it as an exercise.
So the, what you're calling are terming imaginative empathy, is the person you were speaking to said, What do you see? What's your vision for the center and five years? What do you see you're going? And where are
you see yourself in it? So you imagine yourself in relationship to the center.
Okay, so you're not only just imagining the center, but imagining yourself in relation to the center. Yeah,
so I'm imagining getting up jumping into the swimming pool, taking some laps, walking, you know, past the gardens with, you know, vegetables and a bunch of flowers, going into the kitchen into the dining room, having eggs, some eggs, and you know, from our own chickens, honey spreading honey on the bread, homemade bread, and the honey from our beehives. I was I was starting to kind of get into the, like, really imagining kind of walking through the space. Yeah, in five years.
So yeah, so you imagined a day, and you saw yourself getting up taking a few laps in the pool, walking past the garden, getting eggs, from chickens that reside at the center, spreading honey from bees that reside at the center. And so that was really, you know, that was very vivid for you.
Yeah, that's sort of the role playing. So if we do that, you know, everybody's role playing that. And then there's another part of imaginative empathy is we can imagine ourselves being the center, the empathy center, and have a dialogue like, Oh, I am the center, like, how do I feel right now? I feel lonely. I feel abandoned. Nobody's been really here for, you know, eight years, I feel I feel grungy, you know, it's like, so kind of take on the role of the center, and sort of play with that this is a way of kind of getting into our imagination. More.
Yeah. And so another way you can use imaginative empathy is to imagine oneself as the center. And so how do you feel now? Well, it's been abandoned for a year, I feel lonely. I want activity and things like that. So actually taking on the persona of the retreat center yourself.
Yeah, I want love.
Well, I love like all retreat centers.
I've y'all heard Thanks. My
pleasure. All right, Larry, I'll talk to you. Ready? Okay. So, um, you know, so I actually, I think all that stuff is great. But I'm still like a little bit of a Debbie Debbie downer here. And I was thinking of the practicalities. And so it takes about, I think Edwin said about $300,000 a year just to keep for the status quo. So that means that based upon the money that Charles was talking about, in about four years, about half or a little bit more than half of that money would be gone. So my feeling is, is that. So I'm going on so well. I'll stop there.
So I think I'm hearing you say, Bill that while all of these things that Edwin was describing, sound inspiring. You're kind of a Debbie Downer. I think they said, Yeah. Considering the practicality of $300,000 a year to maintain all of this. It's gonna run into some millions of dollars, you know, 100,000 here 100,000. There. Before you know it, you're talking real money.
Exactly. Thanks for channeling Everett Dirksen. And so and No, and I love those ideas. I mean, I think I think that's great. But what I'm stuck on is a sequence of a workflow and a sequence of events. And so, what I see you know, basically, from my understanding, I've never been down there. but from my understanding, the first thing is to really renovate, you know, even though it has been renovated, but the that the wing with the meeting room and the kitchen and the other rooms, you know, to make them really nice, don't it doesn't have to be fancy, but very nice.
So you're considering the practicality of making the facility, you know, a nice condition that there has been a lot of renovation and there needs to be some more renovation. So you're considering the timeline? And you haven't been there yet. But you're considering you know, what's got to be done? Who's gonna get it done? How long? Is it going to take? What's going to cause that kind of a prayer?
Yeah, thanks. And then the other part that has to go hand in glove with that is promotion. That, so you have to promote it, get the word out, but then you need something. So when people come there, they don't say, you know, like, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, that sort of thing.
So practically speaking, you only get one chance to make a first impression. So while you do need to be promoting this, it goes hand in glove, promoting and getting it ready. When they do get there, the guests get there that needs to be presentable. Because you have that one chance to make a first impression.
Right. And then for the promotion, I would think as far as is to take the empathy tent. And at the weekly, Santa Barbara on the beach art show. I know that Sally said, Well, if you could move the bar show up there, it'd be great. And I agree with that. But I think that the financial, you know, powers that be all the restaurants and everything like that would have a hard time with that. So I don't think we'll get the art show up there. But we should go to the art show and promote.
So in practicality, like Sally says, Bring the tent to the art show, right? Before you try to bring the whole art show to the mountain tent to the art show. And let him know about it. So one separate?
Yeah, and I don't know where Mohammed is, and all that, but I don't. So yeah, so that would be so the thing would be to you know, very quickly, make that one wing functional, and then start to have a regular presence at the art show. Like a weekly and that could be rotated. So we can you know, so that people can do it. Yeah. And that's it. And then I'm done. Thanks.
So it's coming back to the practicality of getting that one wing functional before you try to move forward. One step at a time kind of thing. Right.
Thanks. I feel heard, Larry. Thank you, Bill.
Let's see. Jonathan, will you be my listener?
I'd be happy to
you Jonathan. just tried to refresh the timer. Five minutes. There it goes. Yeah, I like all of these inspiring ideas also.
So I hear you saying that you're you like these inspiring ideas?
Yeah, inspiring ideas are inspiring.
Simply put, inspiring ideas are inspiring.
Yeah. And like Bill was saying, we also have to walk one foot in front of the other in a practical manner.
And
you also are recognizing what Bill is saying that we need to plan carefully. Our footsteps.
Yeah. I think that's the purpose of these meetings and visioning meetings related to the center, the empathy visioning center.
And you, you're saying that you? I think I hear you saying that you like the idea of these meetings that we're having, because it allows exchange of ideas and visioning for the future.
Yeah, visiting the empathy center, by planning it through use Zoom meetings.
And so you're saying that you find it very handy that we're able to envision the use of the center and that does zoom meetings are very convenient.
Thank you, Jonathan, I feel fully heard. Well, you're welcome.
Let's see here, Edwin, would you like to reflect a little bit for me
listening?
First of all, I want to say something kind of personal. Letter. I've lost track of how many meetings have gone to. But I had a wonderful experience with Larry and his daughter. And Larry and his daughter were very open. And I found it to be one of the most just comforting and delightful experiences of my life, I just really, really enjoyed. They were talking a bit about personal things. And they shared it with me. And I just felt good about humanity.
Yeah, so you're just going to really share your deep appreciation and experience with Larry and his daughter was just a very meaningful meeting with them. And I don't know if it was a circle, you're a part of together, but it was just very meaningful for you.
And I had another wonderful experience. More difficult, we had a visitor in our circle, who was a counselor for victims of war crimes. And she gave us an analogy, which I've been pondering over the last week, which is a waterfall. And so the idea is, is that in counseling and working with someone who's been through horrific war experiences, and I believe that you've meant meant to say that, that the empathy or the emotions or the resonating with this horrible experience, kind of rushed through her like a waterfall, and we didn't have time to explore it. But I was thinking of my experience with a waterfall in Yosemite. And, yes, there is a waterfall, but then the water comes out, and then continues to flow downstream.
So you're thinking of another circle, you're a part of it, it was a woman who deals with the people who had been through really difficult kind of war crime kind of situations. And she had a metaphor for experiences. That is the experience, it feels like a waterfall flowing through her. And it's giving you a lot of thought about this metaphor, but you kind of extending it to say the water comes through, but then it's comes at the bottom of the pool and kind of start settling out. And so you're sort of expanding on that metaphor.
Yes. And so these experiences is what I find valuable. It's insights into other other lives, other ways of dealing with things. Now as now I'm going to be Donnie downer, to accompany bills, so Debbie downer, and this is the way I would approach it. I think the most valuable asset is Edwin himself.
Okay, so you're going to be a Debbie. Something not not a Debbie Downer, but Donnie, Donnie, Donnie downer. And you're saying that the biggest part of this is myself. And the other part before the first thing you're actually saying was that I think you're really appreciating so the personal experiences that you're having relating with Larry and his daughter, and this other person, just this personal connection is just very meaningful for you as well.
It is. So what I want to say is that I think that I think that the the center needs to develop a successful national or international podcast, huh?
Yeah, so the center should have an international podcast. I mean, a successful one.
Yes, one that's has production value, and competes with some of the podcasts. The podcasts I view on YouTube that are highly successful and have a million followers is one of them is Linus Tech Tips.
So you're just seeing that, you know, creating this very successful podcast that you're watching them, and you have good production values, and you have one that's sort of a model Linus tech tips is one.
Yes. And they have Linus Tech Tips has diversified, they have about four or five different little shows. But the principles show. And I presume that's one of the chief sources of revenue. It is, it follows a personality. And Edwin is a personality. And Edwin has made tremendous outreach to numerous people in the industry. And how could and I see that as a vehicle to raise funds?
Yeah, so you're seeing that in a lot of these podcasts, that have a personality, and that sort of do the outreach. I've done a lot of you know, networking and so forth. And you're seeing that having a podcast me being a personality doing podcasting would be a way to fundraise.
Yes, I feel heard.
Okay. taking some notes here, so I'll speak to Sally.
Yeah. Hi. I'm ready to hear you.
Great. Yeah, I'm thinking a lot to think about here. I'm learning to follow up on Bill sort of practical workflow process. So I'll go through some of the steps that I just wrote down that we're needing to work on. No, pause there.
Okay, you're gonna go through some of the practical work steps or flows that you went through from Bill and you're gonna start to go through them? Yeah. So
the first one is we're doing is cleaning up the building. So there's a lot of old furniture, there's like, you know, 100 mattresses old junky mattresses that are decaying. So we've gotten a we've had at least two containers, so far, just kind of throwing stuff out there. Someone that works, there is a grant groundskeeper. He's been throwing things out, we have all kinds of furniture that we need to sort and, you know, clean, just clean everything up. So that's the step number one, we're sort of in the middle of that.
Okay, so right now you're in the middle of step number one, you're going through all of the boarding rooms, and cleaning up all of the stuff and putting in dumpsters and mattresses and things. Just the only thing you can do with some is so amount, yeah,
and a bunch of furniture too. So the next thing we need to do is we have 14 bedrooms that are usable, so we need to furnish them. But that means we need to design you know, we need to have someone that has a taste and design and then you got to order all this, you know, mattresses, shower curtains, window curtains, you know, coat hangers, I mean, it's just like, just imagine an empty room, and everything's got to be filled in there. So, and then somebody's got to have the style, sort of maybe interior decorator, and then they got to order it than just, you know, all that stuff. So 14 bedrooms to do that.
Okay, so next step is once everything is clean, too, you know, everything emptied out, um, to come up with a and an interior decorator, who's are the style and that has to come up with something unbelievable for each room for people's comfort and relaxation when they arrive and stay.
Exactly. So that's another step. Another one is there's a dormitory that needs renovation that had like, over 40 beds in it or even 60 and we need to renovate that whole building and that's like the biggest expense so we need to come to some conclusion about how to renovate that building. So and then you got to get permits and you know, that's like another big project.
Okay, so now Number three, there was another building, it was like a dormitory with 40 to 60 beds in it. And you're gonna have to pull permits, because there's a lot of extra work that's gonna require the approval of the city. And then you got to clean it all up and get it up to par.
Yeah, renovate it. So that's a big project. That's the biggest one. And then there's another building that was classrooms that were looks like it was illegally turned into rooms. So they had like a dormitory there. And, you know, we have to figure out what to do with that building. We do we turn into classrooms, or we try to get permits to make it into rooms. So that's like a next, you know, sort of next big project.
So then there was this other building that appears to have been made into classrooms. It
was classrooms originally, and it was they illegally turned it into a dormitory. Without permits, I guess they did it without permits.
Okay, so switching that around. They were designated as classrooms by permit and work turned into dormitories, and shows this was just another thing to be worked on with the city and get up to code and decide what to do or to.
Yeah, yeah, I feel heard. That's my time too. But that's that's the bit of an outage, just the beginning of a long list of kind of steps that like Bill is talking about, yeah, I feel hurt. Thanks, Sally.
So it's just the beginning of a long list of cash before you and anyway, so you feel heard? Probably need to hear be heard for more. So when I go to go listening, okay. Yeah, my video somehow turn that setting off. But I see. Yeah, my my questioning goes on, because I envision long term idea that is tied in to diversity, and getting people used to loving other types of people.
So your ongoing visioning is going on. And what come up, came up for you is diversity. And creating a situation where people from different backgrounds can come together in love, peace and harmony.
And love each other, love their enemy as themselves
and love their enemy as themselves.
Okay. So you have all these attendees, they're going to the culture part, then they can break up into cultural dancing. And then, after they go into the big auditorium, where you break down people into empathy circles, with people, as diversified as you can get.
So the idea would be there'd be a concert, and then people would break out into groups doing cultural dancing. And then you'd bring them together in the big auditorium and start some empathy circles with as much diversity as you can get in the breakout circles.
Yeah, so while the concert is going on, there's a little bit of schmoozing, and people get to eat food from these kind of little unknown, calm, just little stations where you can go and try out different types. The food.
So you see that the concert goes on. And you would have little different kiosks where people could sample different types of food.
And then you go in, when you decide you're ready, and you're in this big, I don't know, if you'd call it just a big, comfortable room. And you break down into you find a group that wants to sit down with you very culturally different from your own. And these people are coming from all over the world. And then you do the empathy circle.
So after you read when you're ready, you go into the big room. Not quite sure, exactly, you know, everybody happy, big and comfortable. You find a group that does not match your cultural background, and you enter into an empathy circle with them.
Right. And so then it can go back to the culture more. And it could even be a weekend event.
Right, and that can be extended with several concerts over a weekend.
Yeah. And I thought, Well, yeah.
Sure. So. All right. Let's see. Brenda, you ready? You kind of came a little delay. You ready? Listen?
Yes, thank you. Sure.
Okay, so I'll give you an overview. We're talking a bit. It's about the retreat center. And then I've been sort of Debbie Downer in talking about the practical aspects of it. And, you know, and so that's where I'm focused. I'll stop there.
So I heard what I heard think I heard you say that you're talking about the retreat center. You have several emotions, and one of them could be conceived, conceived as a Debbie Downer type situation.
Yeah. Yeah, hard knocks. So what I see from what's been described, is you take that the 14 rooms, there's a kitchen there, there's a meeting room, there's, there's really everything you need there. And that's the retreat center, phase one, like you get that up, don't worry about the other 60 rooms and stuff like that. That'll come that's an expense. And that's expense that right now is not borne out by the foot threat, whether the traffic by people. So you start with that 14 rooms Meeting Center. And that's the retreat center.
I think what I heard you say, according to your perspective, is what you see is starting with the 14 rooms, because there's a kitchen and a meeting room. However, you feel like the space where there are 60 Additional rooms need to wait due to cost. And due to it not being utilized right now, I think is what I heard you say. So it will best to just utilize what you have for right now and get that foundation strong. And then focus on the 60s, I think what I heard,
yeah, and this is not exclusive there. You know, there are the grounds are already beautiful. You already have a beautiful, you know, scenery and things like that. But you get that and now you have a small retreat center with 14 rooms, you know, a meeting room and a kitchen. And then you figure out, okay, what are you going to do there and then you promote it?
I think what I heard you say is that the area right now is not exclusive, but it already is workable and ready to go like it is with the 14 rooms, the meeting room and the kitchen. So I think what I heard you say is utilizing that space first and finding out how that should be defined and utilized first before moving on to an expansion.
Yeah, exactly. And then part of that promotion would be I mentioned that we would bring the empathy tent to the weekly art show in Santa Barbara, I'll stop there.
You I think I heard you say you meant bringing that empathy tent to Barbra Santa Barbara. Bringing it to Santa Barbara. Right. See what that might look like.
Yeah, they have a weekly art show at the beach,
a weekly pull. Weekly Beach Arts, I mean, to say there's a weekly art show. Yeah, beach with the empathy 10.
Yeah. And the other thing to jump generate is that I'd like to reach out to the Chumash nation. Let's the Native Americans that live in the US area and they have a model village in Malibu. Whereby reservations you can attend, they have some Chumash replica buildings. And you can live a day in the life of a Chumash Native American.
I think what I heard you say in Malibu, California, the Native Americans have a place where you can actually come on site to their compound their their village, and stay for one day to see what it's like to live there. And I think what I heard you say is that there may be an opportunity to reach out to them regarding the San Bernardino empathy facility.
Yeah, Santa Barbara. Yeah, Santa Barbara. Yeah, the big difference, though, I know you don't live in California, but big difference. And so so the idea would be to get Native American to do like an opening ceremony, which I think would generate at least be worth a local paper story. And then to have and I was seeing it like right next to the gym, there's like open flat area, they're putting a few Native American buildings in there. And so now you have an ongoing attraction, where people could come up and then see. And then also, again, by reservation, they could put all in the same program that they do in Malibu in Santa Barbara.
I think what I heard you say this is an opportunity to be inclusive to the Native Americans who are already there who already have been there for a long time. But I'm so an opportunity to engage them and to create a building near the gym and an area that they can feel comfortable with. And that can remind them about the facility that they that they have and malleable, and also to bring them in to bless the facility in a way. Yeah,
thanks. I feel fully heard. Okay.
So I'm
salad will you be my listener?
My gear.
Okay. I just had a wonderful time at church. And I'm glad you guys let me in. I'll stop there.
You just had a wonderful time at church. And I'm really glad that you were let in as
I was driving kind of fast to get home. So I am happy to be here. I regarding the empathy retreat in Santa Barbara. I think it's an awesome opportunity. And there are so many uses that could be available.
Okay, so regarding the retreat in Santa Barbara, there's so many uses are glad you're letting Anki go to church.
Yes. One of the things I can say as far as usage, I could see it being a retreat like there are places that people like Aiyana vans, it Deepak Chopra, of course, he has his own but Jada Van Zandt and other spiritual leaders, they have retreats in places like the empathy retreat in Santa Barbara.
Okay, so there's a lot of these leaders who are empathy oriented, like I am, who could utilize retreat right there in Santa Barbara.
Right. There are spiritual leaders like aI elements, that and other US leaders who do leadership type training. And they go to places like the San Bernardino empathy retreat.
Okay, so there are a lot of spiritual leaders. Like I know Jen Brandt, who they go to a lot of retreats. And this is an ideal place for that guy.
Yes, I think the facility has so many uses. But for me myself, when I looked at it online for me myself, just speaking for myself already sort of room that I want to be in to write my book and to take a sabbatical.
So already you found the room that you want to be in for a time in order to take your sabbatical and write your book.
Yeah, I think it's a great place for people to get away and to just even reflect not just for sabbatical reason, but just to get on whiteboard just just a me time, it's a me time type situation, even though you know the empathy listening the empathy facility is what it is, it's also has, it could also have a use for other things just for people to just power down mentally, you know what I mean? And the empathy circle is just a yummy treat, since you're there, powering down.
So this concept of the empathy circles really yummy treat, but just idea of using it to powering down and getting center and finding yourself is really something you'd like to visualize as part of the pool.
Yes, if a couple was having problems in their marriage, if a married couple were having problems, and they were working with a counselor, and getting through that, that will be a place that a counselor could come and bring a couple and a couple will stay for a week. And every, all the fees and everything are included within that, that retreat, and in addition to them getting the counseling, they also get empathy listening circles.
So this idea of like, you have a couple, and they're having issues, and they need to be in a setting with maybe a mediator and also with the empathy circles, can take a week long retreat, and go to the facility and get to a place like a centering point. I feel hurt. Okay. Oh. Larry. Larry, Larry,
ready? Can you hear me? Oh,
well, yeah. Okay, um, I think that Brenda has just come up with ideas, and never thought of. And I really liked that idea. And I, I just see that I don't remember what it was the percentage of people that it in their marriage and divorce. But it's a huge amount. And I suspect that they're all in the LA area.
So Sally, I'm hearing you say that Brenda has come up with a wonderful ideas. And think you're referring to the couples counseling retreat center. And you don't know the statistics. But there are a huge amount of marriages end in divorce. And it just might be that that is the area, the LA area, I think he said, where a lot of couples could benefit from kind of a getaway Retreat Center, where they could practice empathy circles and come together kind of saying something.
Yeah, and kind of center themselves together as a couple, we'll see if they can get back to where they were before. And maybe this wasn't thought of before, but to help like, quarters, that you could fill with a couple and you know, instead of these little single beds, but to have a king sized bed or something like that. They pay, you know, when appropriate costs, which I wouldn't think about in Santa Barbara. But anyway, just stop there.
So you're adding to to consider the quarters, where people could stay to be modified so that a couple could stay there. And to consider that a lot of couples could benefit from you're saying to get centered, to get back to where they were before or to become grounded. And an empathy circle setting in a retreat center setting. Just relax and unwind, get grounded and come back to their natural empathic selves. When they first said, I do and then later thought, No, I don't. Something like that.
Well I just say, the certain times a year, I, the concept of motel in Santa Barbara, is 350 plus per night.
So the cost of a motel in Santa Barbara is 350 plus per night.
Yeah. Um, but back to well, my dad had a patio garden store. And whatever people are saying about being able to grow seems it's very doable. And knowledge that my, my husband, he, he knows how to do the gray water lines where you can take the water from, well, when people take showers and you know, wash dishes and all that kind of stuff. And that can water the gardens themselves.
And you're in the, in the area of gardening, you're talking about how your husband is familiar with how to set up a graywater system to retrieve water that may have been used for something like washing dishes or something like that. And use that to water the garden. I think you're saying that to us kind of a traditional kind of conservation of resources, permaculture approach to the gardening.
Yeah. And and then there's the compost, composting.
And then there's the compost composting.
Yep. Okay, I've got bullied her.
Thank you, Sally.
BJ, will you be my listener? Yes. Well, yeah, I'm really inspired by your idea of a counseling, centering vision.
I think what I heard you say you're, you're inspired by my idea of a counseling Visualization Center. But
to use it for a retreat for counseling for couples, because there should be a lot of demand for that.
To use it as a facility for couples who are experiencing issues in their marriage, there should be a need for that.
Right? I think the statistics are something like about 50% of the marriages end in divorce. So this could almost beat the performance of the Catholic Church.
50% of the marriage is failing, you feel like
the facility could
impact differently what the Catholic Church is experiencing when it comes to failures in marriage?
Right, this could be an actual rehabilitation, the center that actually works.
I think I heard you say it could be a rehabilitation center that actually works.
Yes. So I'm very inspired by this idea of doing couples counseling in a retreat center, and including incorporating empathy circles into that.
I think what I heard you say you're, you think it's a great idea that for a counselor to come to the empathy center, and bring their client with them and also receive empathy listening circles after they finished their counseling.
Right, because that would be meeting a great need, with a very practical application.
I think you said that will be great meeting a great need with a very practical application.
Exactly. Thank you, Brenda. I feel fully heard. Okay.
All right. Jonathan, will you be my listener?
Yes, thank you. Okay, um,
I've just been thinking about so much. This is such a great opportunity for the Santa Barbara area to be put on the map. I know they're already on the map. But this will be a great opportunity for them to be on the map.
So you're feeling very good about saying that. This is going to be of great benefit to the people that live in Santa Barbara.
Yes. So one thing I was thinking about, not just so a retreat for you marriage counselors and their clients but also motivational speakers who target like a certain group of people. Not like Tony Robbins. Okay, he has too many people. You know, he has a lot of people, no, no pun intended.
So you're saying that the idea of marital counseling is a good one. But also, you want to point out that there's a lot of motivational speakers that need a place to present their ideas.
And some of the some of the motivational speakers are leaders that target a certain group of people, which means I think I heard 60 rooms. So it will probably be like, right at 60 or below, because they target specific people.
And so you're saying that if the center was fully rehabilitated, by having dormitory and the additional rooms to accommodate upwards of 60 guests, that might be an ideal number, for a number of motivational speakers to present to?
Yeah, a lot of basinal speakers who target a specific group of people, motivational speakers who target a certain audience, let's say, for example, there are ministers that take retreats. And when pastors and ministers take retreats, it's it's very specific, you know what I mean? And they go to places that are not near strip clubs and things like that, you know?
So, so what you're saying that, in your life's experience, you've come across a leader, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers and presenters, who would present to a group of people, and these people are selected, in a way. And that that I that the number of 60s seems to be just about the magic number for these types of retreats.
Yes, and I think for the retreat, the ensign Santa Barbara, to be specifically catered to a certain group of people, like, for example, Sarah Jakes Robert Wood, just TD Jakes daughter, he's a minister, you know, to cater to a certain religious state, for example, you want to cater to First Ladies, this would be a retreat, but all first ladies wives, a pastor. So if you're not a pastor's wife, you can't attend, you know what I mean for them to have the retreat there and and to turn around and do empathy listening circles? Yes, Santa Barbara will be on the map for sure.
So what you're saying that these would be essentially private rental engagements, and that a group would come in, rent the facility for two days and bring their specifically targeted? Audience in to have a retreat?
Yes, because certain groups in society like pastors, pastors wives, is a different type of it's a it's a select. I don't know how it's planned. But it's a select group of people that the their circle is different. You know what I mean? Their circle is totally different. So for a specific group of people like pastors wives, or pastors, this would be an awesome place for them to come and have whatever meeting they have and and after that meeting, breakout into empathy, listening circles.
And so you think that there could be an opportunity to bring empathy, emphatic listening to a wider group of, of people?
Yes, because pastors are people too, and pastors need to help people don't understand they need to power down. If people would just look at the suicide rate rate among pastors, they will be surprised. So there is a need for pastors to power down, not just take us about what to actually power down and to do empathy, listening circles, I think will be awesome. I'll leave it there.
So you're specifically singling out pastors and their wives and families and that it would be a benefit if there was a retreat for them to get away from their congregation and to experience something different and as you're saying, pared down, so to speak.
I'll leave it there. I feel heard.
Okay, well, thank you very much. Gosh, Hey, Bill, would you reflect for me? Sure. Again.
I feel like sharing something a I was involved in Vallejo politics, and in and it got very messy.
So you want to share a story about the Laiho politics. You were involved in it and got very messy.
And there was a pastor who was targeted because of his beliefs.
So there was a, there was a pastor who was targeted because of his beliefs.
And I ended up bumping into him at at at Panda Express,
and you ended up bumping into him one day at Panda Express.
And we spoke, and he ended up inviting me to dinner. And so we sat down and had dinner together. And it was a lovely conversation. And I ended up being vilified for it.
So you saw him at Panda Express, he invited you to dinner, you went out to dinner with him, you had a lovely conversation with him. And then somehow you got vilified for it.
And let's move ahead eight years. Okay,
moving ahead eight years,
and he's living two doors down from me.
Okay, so he lives, two doors away from you.
And he's been my good friend for the last eight years,
been a good friend for the last eight years. And when
I was out gardening, he would drive by on his way to take care of his business. And we always wave at each other. And occasionally he stops and it is so lovely having a good friend like him living two doors down, that is part of the neighborhood. And it's just and so this was a very meaningful experience to me.
So he moved into doors way, you're good neighbors, you see each other, he'll stop and socialize. And you feel that this is enriches the fabric of your neighborhood. And you're very grateful for it.
Yeah. Now back to envisioning our retreat. I think at the time, I think that our I think that the priority, as always should be programming. And Edwin is in an enviable position because he is in the process of developing programming.
So you think that the a lot of the main work of a retreat center is programming, and you feel that Edward has expertise in that area,
and the struggles that I'm having in helping out in the empathy and Schools Project? Could be once I've gotten through that, and created something, I think that it becomes kind of like a template for applying it for other areas.
So you're seeing that, you know, the programming promoting and stuff you haven't done yet, or haven't accomplished yet, in Vallejo, and the East Bay that you're looking to do. But once you push through that, and you get something started, that can be used as a template, in other situations?
Yes, is, as I haven't shared with the larger group, I did just innocently talk to the director of the senior citizen center in Albany. And he actually said he would love to have a live empathy circle group weekly at the Albany's senior citizen center.
Yeah, so you haven't shared this yet. But you had a talk with the director of the Albany senior citizens center. And he was loved to have a weekly empathy circle group there.
And so all of a sudden, we're talking about a tremendous commitment of time and energy. And so I worry that, that, that I would like to see that the Santa Barbara, a project, not eclipse, the development on the local level of empathy groups in our community. And I go back to the idea of the podcast in saying that Edwin is a very valuable asset and he should be promoting all of the local groups, which will be come The feeder to the centralized group, if we can keep that group going, I mean, the Santa Barbara project. Okay.
So one of the things you realized with work weekly empathy circles, the senior centers that it very rapidly becomes a very big time commitment to keep something like that going. And so you would like to see, certainly in support of the retreat center I, I sense, but you'd also not to lose sight of these local projects. And so you would look to, you know, kind of do it. And you find that the podcast would be with Edwin doing a podcast would be an excellent promotional tool for both the retreat center and also local projects.
So I feel heard. Thank you, Bill. All right.
Go ahead. One more thing.
Okay. So so I hadn't heard the latest for about the guy who, you know, that the weekly empathy circles. And, you know, I'm in and the, you know, if Jonathan fields that I could be useful, and, and then the time commitment issue is initial, initially, but you would also do a facilitation training. So you would train the staff, and even though some of the residents to become facilitators, so that it's not an open ended commitment?
Mm hmm. So you're in for this, this Albany, Senior Center empathy circles, and you're explaining that you start with training people there how to take part in a circle, you do the training, and it becomes sort of a self sustaining, so you're not like totally tied up for the rest of your life?
Yeah. And while you know, and yeah, and I think that the local projects, you know, I think there's a positive feedback loop between local projects, the retreat center, and back and forth, that and so we should, like a podcast would be, you know, one way to go with that. I don't know too much about it, but it sounds like, you know, be fine. And, you know, but then, and then we look at, you know, how we're promoting it, the promotions then fit together. And then we look at expanding in all areas.
Yeah, so you're sort of addressing Jonathan's concern that the retreat center empathy center doesn't Eclipse all the energy, there's something local, and you're seeing that they it can be sort of mutually supportive and.
Right, right, so if we start to do like an empathy circle at the Senior Center, and we start to report, you know, some good data, that, you know, that rebounds to sort of like support the retreat center. And then if we take that, and the retreat center becomes a place that is known more broadly than that helps seed new local groups.
Yeah, so you're seeing that local groups that form they kind of support the retreat center in the empathy sent retreat center supports these local groups. So it's, again, you're kind of going in deeper into how they support each other.
Right. And I think that one of the some of the data you could take is similar to the, to the happiness index that I put up after a training, where I think that you could reliably expect that seniors would not feel so lonely or isolated if they took place in a empathy circle. And I think that that would be you could get data on that.
Yeah. So you think you could get data on just showing that if people in a senior center did empathy circles that would reduce loneliness, and you could sort of support that with data?
Yeah. And not only that, and I'm going a little bit further ahead of the research. But I'm also probably going to say that since we know how emotions affect longevity, you would probably have better health outcomes and longevity outcomes as well. But that would be a longer term study.
Yes, you're looking at studies that would show you know better well being and more longevity. And that's a longer term study to be able to prove that but you really want to get the data on a study.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And so then I'll go a little bit into like, we talked about going down there and making a trip and I'm a little confused because you weren't available and Uh, so basically what I see in that trip is we'd go down, we would do some work about cleaning and you know, putting stuff in the dumpster, we go check out The Art Festival, see what it is get, you know, register to get an empathy tent in there. And then, you know, we'd have a sort of an idea of when that 14th room wing might be ready and what we could offer, you know, as far as programming to start to get things moving.
Yeah, so you're saying the first step is just to go down and take a trip down there? It's been a bit vague, like when we could actually do it in terms of scheduling, then we so check it out, check out the art center there with the empathy tent? And yeah, so just take those steps.
Thanks. I feel fully here. Okay.
Thanks. Larry, can I speak to you? Yeah. Yeah, I very much see that I think that the having the retreat center set up is really going to help with the publicity, you know, for the empathy movement in general. So that's it, I should really help all sorts of local small learning initiatives locally, I think it's going to give it give that legitimacy.
So as you can see that having the retreat center set up, is going to help with the publicity, local, and everywhere.
And I got so many different ideas, I can't get to them all in five minutes, but I'm sort of breaking it down into, you know, conceptually, the renovations and the fixing up for the property, and then empathy center projects. So those two different aspects.
So breaking it down into two different aspects, one being the renovation of the physical property, and then come the empathy circles. Well, if
the empathy center organization and all the programs that are under that?
Well, it's the empathy center program, and everything under that.
Yeah, exactly. So I see, I'm creating different sorts of project groups that are under the empathy center. And one is like, an initiative for maybe empathy based Mediation Center as a project group.
So empathy based mediation groups could be one of the projects under the empathy center, umbrella, kind of,
yeah, and Brenda and cat hook, it was in the volunteers circle yesterday, and Linda are all, you know, very steeped in mediation practices. So we formed like a team, a committee team, that's working to develop a whole program around that mediation,
to develop a team of mediators, of which we already have experienced personnel, within the empathy circle training, want to create a team of mediators, as one of the projects under the empathy center, umbrella.
And then, you know, it starts with a group of volunteers, but then we tried to get funding, I think, with the, with the center, we can get, you know, funding, get 100,000, or whatever, you know, for that project. And then the people who are sort of running it, they can, you know, get some kind of income from it, as well as organize volunteers around it. So that would be like one project group.
So the, the people who are involved in this particular project may start out as volunteers, but you also see the possibility of getting some funding once the empathy center is up and running, getting some grants and donations and maybe 100,000. And then those people who were volunteering could get paid. And then they could get some volunteers to work for them.
Yeah. And then there'd be other project groups, like empathy in the schools as a project group, you know, if Bill doing that, than having a team around that. So there's different project groups that are sort of self contained entities, but you know, interacting with other groups.
And there would be various groups that interact with one another bill, for example, would handle the group for education.
And, you know, I'm just making this up. So then Jonathan, senior centers, right, the whole group, we need empathy for seniors. So that's like a project group. And from what I'm seeing in these nonprofit books, is you set up so to centers like that within your organization. And then donors have certain things that they're interested in addressing and they'll donate to those projects. Yeah, and it gives them a choice of projects to donate to.
And what you're seeing in the development of nonprofits is that donors could donate to the various projects, for example, Jonathan could potentially head up the seniors empathy circle groups, and receive donations towards that.
Yeah. So that's it, then there's the over the foundational organization that kind of deals with all the bookkeeping just kind of helps those project groups sort of run. So anyway, that's kind of one model that I'm thinking of, and there could be a permaculture and Pathik, permaculture center, too, that's dealing with the farming on gardening on the property and, and then so that they can hold their own workshops. So you're kind of doing research, holding workshops, you're doing trainings, you know, offering services within these different project groups.
So that's kind of an overall view of how it could be set up. Nick could also include the permaculture and organics, gardening, and yeah, all under one big umbrella of the empathy. Circle center.
Yeah. Yeah. That's so one idea I'm having now so I feel heard. Thanks.
Okay, Sally, will you be my listener?
Yeah, man.
Thank you, Sally. Well, on the organic gardening side of things, I'd like to introduce a topic
on the organic gardening component or idea, you want to introduce a topic?
Yeah, I think that healthy diet is essential to maintain the the empathy center.
You saying that healthy diet is the central for maintaining the houses center is devote?
No, I think that the the health of everyone there is going to be, you know, don't wait is determined by the food that they eat.
The health of everyone who is there and working there is determined by the food that they eat.
Right. And there's a food that I've come across. That's not brand new at all, but I'm highly recommending it.
There's food that you come on, crush, not too new, but you're gonna recommend it.
And it's called sour dough, bread.
And it's called sour dough. Bread.
If you make it organically and naturally, it actually can be antiviral and anti carcinogenic.
And if you make it organically, it can be anti viral and anti carcinogenic.
Yes. Which is pretty surprising, I think. But I think the whole idea of eating organically is essential to everyone. Maintaining an empathic way of being
in eating organically is essential to everyone's state of being right
thank you, Sally. I feel fully heard.
Okay. But there Jonathan, are you there? Jonathan? I hope so. Okay. Oh, yeah, I changed all the settings and now everything is not working. Okay, um, I have all these flaws from the past ideas. Okay, well, I just thought I loved VISTA and organic farming cuz the two are synonymous with one another. at UCSB, there's Isla Vista, the community, and they have a lot of organic
farms. So you're saying that the University of Santa Barbara at alla VISTA has a emphasis currently on organic farming. And so that makes a nice fit.
Yeah, I bet that there would be a lot of kids, that would be volunteers or hit up. Programs that Karen comes up with, and maybe when she's not available. And I think there's a lot of opportunity there.
So what you want to re emphasize is that the idea of integrating into the landscaping of the center gardens, and especially edible gardens, is a good idea. And that it would could appeal to a lot of the students. And the folks that live around Santa Barbara.
Yeah. I also have mentioned Santa Barbara City College, which has a younger population, and with the same sort of state of mind of organic, and the Eco village concept, but probably would like to have, like, the See you whatever it is in Eco, village, and permaculture right out of cares program.
So you're also stating that in addition to the university, there's the community college, which has a large program, and that you think that a lot of the students that students there who are younger, would be interested in any programming that the retreat center did that was related to growing food and sustainable practices.
And I would have to say with 100% probability that these programs do not exist at either Santa Barbara City College, or is yesterday.
And you're uncertain as to whether these programs exist as you're envisioning at at these two educational facilities.
I'd say it's very doubtful.
So you're emphatic me saying that they aren't doing it.
Exactly. So it's a great opportunity. Okay, so back to sour go. I think sourdough is incredibly difficult to do. Matter of fact, to me, it has turned to turn into a nightmare.
So now you're returning to creating sourdough and specifically I guess, a cultivating the, I guess bacteria that causes the dough to go sour. And you say that it's very hard to, to, to do to to to manage a culture I was looking for the word culture and and you think it's hard to do.
Okay, so culinary, ours falls into another category. For what clarity is talking about with these healthy choices that are gonna? Well, I'm also just thinking about sauerkraut and making the just a lot of things that are necessary to be healthy. Kimchi.
So you're pointing out that here's another area that's worthy of consideration, which is, I guess Have a cultivating bacteria for different purposes such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and of course, sourdough bread. And that. And that's an interesting area.
Right? It's called culinary arts. Culinary Arts. Yes. And so I'm just throwing it out there. No one's mentioned it yet.
And so you just wanted to share with the group, the idea of having some programs designed around culinary arts.
Yes. Thank you. I probably heard.
Well, thank you, Sally. Brenda, would you reflect for me? Yes, thank you. I'm going to just reemphasize what I talked about a little earlier, in that.
Edwin currently has a tremendous library of videos. And it's quite practiced in making these videos. But what I was hoping to, to say, or to impress everyone with is that making a weekly podcast of much higher production value. With the idea of a little bit more scripting and a little bit more forethought with the specific idea of having it being I guess, a fundraiser, and a focal point for the senator might be a doable, start with that, that could be done with existing resources with not much expenditure.
Okay, I think what I heard you say is that Edwin has several videos regarding empathy, listening circles, and the process and the procedures. And you feel like, it will make a great difference regarding bonds and raising funds and getting a more stable financial situation in place, if he were to consider the podcast, and the podcast could be utilized as a fundraiser because of the content that's being put out.
Yeah, you know, it's like, how do you get started on this mammoth project? Edwin is up here in the Bay Area. With me and bill. We're in the San Francisco Bay Area. And it seems like all the work that needs to be done is down in Santa Barbara.
I think what I heard you say is that you're in the Bay Area. Edwin's in the Bay Area. Bill's in the Bay Area, the Bay Area is considered San Francisco. Yeah, ever. The Empathy base retreat is in Santa Barbara. So I think what you're seeing is there some distance there.
Quite a bit of distance, and quite a bit of logistical difficulty.
Okay, so I think I heard you say, logistically, it's, it's quite a way, the way there's some distance. And logistically, it's not feasible to be there on a regular basis.
Very difficult. Certainly, for me, I, I'm a caregiver. And I have a little window of opportunity, maybe another week and a half where I can be up in Vallejo. And that would be the only time this year that I could pull away for a week to go down to Santa Barbara and clean toilets.
I think what I heard you say is that you're willing to pitch in and help however, because you are a caregiver, your schedule, you would need advance notice number one, and that your schedule is such that you have limited time available. Yeah.
What's nice about putting a bit of energy into a really professionally done podcast is I think it could be done either there or up here.
I think what I heard you say regarding the podcast, you do not have to be in the same place in the same space at the same time. And that logistically it could work because of automation.
Well, as we've seen with Zoom, currently, all of EDWINS hundreds and hundreds of videos are mainly produced mostly produced on Zoom.
Okay, thank you said most of All Edwin's videos are produced on Zoom and he has hundreds and hundreds of them.
Wonderful stuff, wonderful videos,
wonderful empathy, listening circle videos and other things.
Man, here's the however, however, we have modern audiences that are looking for slicker production, and a little less of the genuine honesty that occurs. It's an acquired taste watching all of these videos. It's not easy for the for young kids, let's put it that way. And I feel heard after you reflect,
okay, you're however you're however is that though he has a lot of videos, I think what I heard you say what some of the younger audiences, they may become a little distracted. I think is what I heard you say?
Something like that. But thank you for listening. Okay.
All right. Um, Edwin, will you know, very well, you've been listening. Yes. Okay, so one of the things I want to say is that I want to share something with you all, is that that the empathy base retreat, no matter what you do, the foundation needs to be strong.
So Brenda, you sharing that? Whatever we do, the foundation needs to be strong.
Yes. And I'd like to share with you Maya angelos, want to hurt one of my favorite quotes. She said, people will forget what you say it, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. And that's empathy listeners circles.
And you'd like to share what Amanda Angelo's quotes, and it has to do with people will forget what you said, and what you did. But they'll never forget how you made them feel.
And with empathy, listening circles, I just want to say Edwin mentioned project groups more than once he said project groups regarding the elderly project group regarding Schools Project Group regarding mediation. And I was thinking that will be awesome. Those projects group as groups are an excellent idea. And I liked that premise.
And everyone has mentioned several of the inspiring ideas that have come out of this, this empathy circle, like groups for the elderly, and blanking on them kind of written down. The couples counseling, the circles for the elderly, the peace concerts, and the University of Santa Barbara, Isla Vista, all of these ideas that have come out of this empathy circle. Edwin has mentioned that several times there are projects that we need to to lift up and that these are part of the foundation, I think you're saying, I just realized I forgot to start the timer. Starting it now. Sorry about that.
And one thing I can say regarding empathy, listening circles and mediators is just been amazing that past couple of years, well, three years that I've been online, you know, due to the pandemic, I've met mediators who have become a part of empathy, listening circles, some of them right here in Texas, like Linda bass, Deanna, and that we connect some time through empathy, because of empathy, listening circles.
And being a mediator, you're meeting other mediators who are gathering in the empathy circles, and meeting each other and receiving benefit from the empathy circles, and the community kind of a mediators developing around that it sounds like,
okay, so regarding the empathy base retreat, and project groups, with mediation.
So regarding this group related to mediators developing
regarding the project groups for mediators, it mentioned Linda bass, she's a mediator. I'm a mediator, and they're like four others that I know. So I think that will be an awesome project group. And I'm all in.
So regarding a project for mediators, you're all in there like four of mediators already involved in empathy circles. And it sounds like a really great way to create a project related to mediation and bring that into the empathy envisioning circles center.
Yes, because what mediation and empathy business circles and the project group. One thing I thought about immediately was how the HR managers and directors need help.
Hmm. And the HR managers need help. And this could, this could be that help.
Yeah, as a project group participant,
as a project group of participants.
Yeah. Now regarding food and sustainability at the empathy base retreat. I don't know if you guys ever heard of Sadhguru. He's an Indian, Mystic, and Guru. That's just what he is Sadhguru. He's a guru. So
to the organic gardening, and Sadhguru you're mentioning Sadhguru.
I was just thinking, this particular empathy base retreat will be global, if it was just like nothing but PLANT BASE fruits and vegetables, and just plant base. That will be an awesome thing, I think for people who visit or people who come to the empathy base retreat.
And to make this a plant based kind of vegan diet, could be awesome for international groups to visit.
People who are vegan or people who are trying to get off of meat, it will be an awesome place for them to come in, just power down and have circles
for sustainability of the planet projects. Getting away from the sad, sad American diet, Standard American Diet, which is sad, sad, and causes a lot of illness, it would be great to create that kind of a movement in the empathy Center, where people who want to live sustainably could envision that and practice that, and teach that and share that.
I feel hurt. I'll stop there, because you didn't set the clock.
Thank you, Brenda. How are we doing on time is at about that time. Speaking of time.
Sorry, I got my Windows went all weird. Yeah, we could just sort of do a little bit of a really needed debrief, I thought maybe I would show you the property, like just, you know, get kind of work your way into it more i i. And then we can have a debrief at the very end. So let me just share this. So this is a Google Earth, you know, 3d view of it. And all these windows pop up here. So this is the part that's the dormitory that needs renovation. It. And then this is there's a library here. And it was supposed to this was supposed to be classrooms, here. And then this part over here is a chapel. And it's holds 200 People in the chapel. And underneath is a basement. And that basement has sort of, you know, like sort of a big meeting room that we want to put in wood floors in there. So it could be someplace for dance yoga. And then in the back here, there's a little room, that's a really nice meeting room. Because you know, that needs to be fixed up, you think you can walk out to this lawn. And on this lawn, we're talking about putting a swimming pool in here. So you'll be able to, you know, look out over Santa Barbara and the ocean in terms of other buildings here. So this building, this building here used to be where the priests live. So they had these really big rooms. And it's it's really the like the fifth. Like the staff room facilities are seven about seven bedrooms in this building here. And it's all that's all been renovated and use able to be used. And those rooms need to be furnished. The groundskeeper lives there I got one of the rooms too that I've been kind of fixing up for myself because now I'm going to be going down there a bunch or maybe even staying there permanently. This here is there's a kitchen, you know kind of industrial kitchen in this area here. And then there's a dining two kind of dining rooms that are pretty big dining rooms and also for meeting rooms. And then this part here had been a when it was a seminary, they had nuns, there was seven room for seven nuns, there was a, like a self contained unit here, they had their own, you know, washing and stuff. And then they, they were the ones that did took care of, I think, you know, stuff like the kitchen and so forth. And there's a, there's a nice meeting room here, it's all been renovated. So this wing is pretty close to being usable. It's currently these rooms are full of all the furniture that we carried out from, from under the all those under the in the store in the area, under the chapel, the recreation room, or multipurpose room was just dead started furniture, where we moved it all into these rooms to sort of sort it right here, we've been putting a container, you know, this big, eight foot high, you know, 20 foot long container and just throwing stuff out kind of getting rid of it. And then there's a, there's a gym, here, like it's big enough for it's a two, basketball court gym, you know, big gym. And in the front is a little room here. And I was thinking that could be actually sort of like an art center, right, we get some community you know, somebody that's like an art director and they could have different art activities in here. And in the back, there's in the back of the gym or two rooms. One is like a weight room and the other is has all kinds of sporting supplies. And while this looks flat right now, some for I don't know somehow when they were doing some renovations, they piled up huge pile of dirt here. So it's not a flat area anymore, it's the we have to figure out what to do with that dirt. In terms of like permaculture I'm thinking you know, back along this side here would be a good place for permaculture, you know, some kind of a permaculture, like some sheds, or you know, section here for gardening and stuff. And by the way, those trees right there are like orange and lemon trees. And some we've been also looking at this parking lot, the parking lots been paved over. And several people have mentioned you know, kind of getting rid of one of the parking spots to make it more of a more of a garden area like this here is a 70 foot by 70 foot garden area right now it's everything's dead there. But to kind of move the parking move that farther get rid of some of the parking so that it just has a loading zone because right now it looks kind of like a motel if you know like those drives, driving drive in motels, you feel like you're in sort of a motel with all that parking, you know, right there by the rooms. So maybe if we got rid of half of that just had you know, accessibility parking and a loading zone that might kind of shift the whole field that there's a garden you know, more in the center and this area, this lawn here could also be sort of a garden area. So it maybe make the whole courtyard, a garden. And we had and maybe even instead of it being paved, it could be kind of like cobblestone, something like that to shift shift out motel feeling the property is it feels very institutional, you know, it has a real sort of institutional kind of a it's like the schools I went to school in, you know, growing up, it's just another flat that's as a real institutional. It's not like a very elegant space. And this is a this is the loading zone here. So they like for some, you know, for it drives, it drives up to the kitchen, there's a kitchen back here, and you can and that's Yeah, and so this is the staff room again, and then it all this this hill, you know, the hill, I'm kind of envisioning it being terrorist over a 10 year 15 year period and putting in, you know, gardens, planting trees and stuff on this terrace property. I mean on these terraces and stuff so you can see it Accept to this National Forest. There's that national forest back there. Oh, shoot as always. And then the let me see the, the view is pretty, you know, pretty amazing these year, down here. And you're up above you know, it's above Santa Barbara. So that's how Santa Barbara you know, fate and you see the you see the ocean and those islands out there. And from here to downtown Santa Barbara is only like 10 minutes. So that's it's not like, it's kind of remote, but it's not so remote. And all this stuff in yellow is, is the property. So all this stuff can be used somehow, it's all becoming overgrown with Chaparral. This is like an old picture. So it's because of the rain, they used to have goats in here that would eat, you know, eat the brush to keep the brush down because it was super fire danger. They've had multiple fires, you know, back here, and there had been a fire that had gone through. It had burned down some houses nearby, but they didn't burn down this but you know, it's like, that's a real big concern is is fire danger so that I don't have any questions about the property or wondering
I think you should map out the Natural History Museum and the botanical gardens. And the relationship and the distance. Because, and the the mission because these are all tourist locations set. Well, there's our link Well, the Granada's theater. So there's things that you're gonna want to, you know, have like in a map. And then also I hate to be the Debbie downer, but you're gonna have to have like, a traffic study that understand how many people are going to be a Bing, and stain.
And those are all they call that the conditional use permit. So there's a certain limit on the amount of people that can stay there. And there's Yeah, that's something we're trying to figure out. But
anyway, you kind of want to have that all figured out.
Yeah, and I'll just mentioned there is a botanical gardens, and it's right here. So when we when you drive up, you drive up, you know, up this road here. And then if you turn left mission Canyon, there's a a big Botanical Gardens right there. So that's a big tourist attraction. Then you turn but if you turn, right, you're going up rattlesnake Canyon. So this is rattlesnake Canyon, that the that goes around the side. And yeah, that's only like a few minutes drive from here to here. So to the to the Botanical Gardens is probably like, you know, five minutes, six minute drive. Yeah, Bill.
Oh, I just wanted to throw in just brainstorming is putting in the pond in the aquaculture maybe in that courtyard? That's dead now? Because I just looked at that would be an excellent area. Yeah. So near the chapel?
Yeah. Oh, the chapel?
Yeah. Near near the Arwood. Yeah, the, where the old 70 by 70. Area is?
Oh, right in the middle here. Yeah, that's it.
So pond in the middle of that. And then each of those 70 semi circles, can have some, you know, some vegetables and things like that. Yeah. And that would be, that would be a nice focal point, to start to change that.
Just like how to capture the water. We're looking at this. We just connected with me just, we connected with this with two permaculture sort of experts in the area, and this one is seventh generation. And they just gave us a bid for doing a site analysis. So they, you know, kind of do property, they analyze the property, they, you know, can help with some design. So for permaculture design, and then they'll also do some of the work. So what I'm sort of imagining is, you know, we get into design now we get the site analysis, maybe a ASIC design, then we look for someone to kind of a live in a live in one or two people who are sort of the directors of the permaculture, and they kind of do the work the, and then develop some trainings and workshops and stuff. Plus I'm hoping that these organizations, these other permaculture people will come and do do permaculture, you can check their site seven generation design.com. And, you know, we had talked to them. And so, and I just said real quick here, this is the route Oprah's house it's 60 minutes away, and Montecito, she has $100 million estate here. So and Dwayne was like, Yeah, you gotta get Oprah in this, I think, I think so if she would say, Hey, this is a great center here, just put it on one of her shows that would really make it so. But it's a great if you look at the, if you go and check the tour, you know, on the website, check the tour, you can just click through, and just you can kind of scan the all the neighbors and the areas, it's just, it's just amazing to see what kind of houses there are. And this here is kind of a photo, you know, kind of just photographs, like that was the storage area ups. That's that little room, I was mentioning in the back of the chapel underneath. And this is like a great, you know, some kind of a workshop room. And then when you want to take a break, you just walk out and you know, there's the view there. And this is you know, that's the chapel inside the chapel. So it's got sort of a marbleized floor holds to 200 people, the the basement, you can see all this furniture, we move Charles and I were there we went and physically moved all that stuff, put it into the and this is a nice little porch here that for sort of staff space, and you can get a sense of the renovated room if I think that's my room right there. So they're big rooms for the staff like, Yeah, almost 400 square feet, rooms pretty amazing. And that's the dining room. So and there's, and that's the kitchen. So you can see, like those smaller. You can see associate industrial, you know, big kitchen for. And anyway, there's just tons of, you know, pictures, there's a library there, that and stuff like that. So anyway, just wanted to give you a little tour, so you can kind of get a bit of context for the space. Oh, let me just show you this. This is what the dormitories were like. So this was the old dormitories. You can see they had like seminarians, you know, priests, they people learning to be priests. And they just had the everything divided by curtain. So people had their own sink and a bed here. And this is all you know, so they divide that by two, so we need to kind of renovate it. That's downstairs. Yes, we need to renovate all this has got gotta be torn out. That's kind of the biggest project and yeah, so that's just some of the nuts and bolts. Yeah, go ahead. Anybody jump in. Yeah, I'd like
to say that facility is really, really nice. And I'm sure it's gonna do really, really well. But I just still go back to the foundation. Like when somebody drive up, they need to be blown away of the entrance. And that will take care of everything else. I'm not saying it needs to be like a hotel. But I think the entrance the entrance is really nice. And I really liked what Bill had to say regarding that. And there's there's area I mean, it is so nice. I just saw as you were giving us a tour, I was thinking okay, that's the community garden. Okay, for the pools. I mean, it's gonna be really really nice. But like I said, I think that entryway should be similar to a hotel but just on a more serene level.
Yeah, that's just my thoughts. Yeah, absolutely. It's like it's very institutional field when you drive up now so we need to really make it you know, add some kind of a beautiful landscaping or some permaculture you know, something that this makes it you know, really attractive and cast that for First impression. Yeah,
yeah, that was a serene idea that Bill had I like that.
Hey, I hate to be kind of a Debbie Downer. I can.
Everybody's fills it all fish
gone down go to go to some hotels and motels in Santa Barbara and see what they look like. Because this is horrible. People who are wealthy will not stay here. And you don't want to attract wealthy people. And you know, the Hilton Holiday Inn. Even Motel Six there is Unbeliev. Because it's kind of
Yeah, you're apt I totally agree. It's, you know, Santa Barbara is a beautiful place. The landscaping is great than this is very, this is not a wealthy looking space. It's a beautiful place, but we need a lot of work to beautify it. So I want to keep us on time we're going over so. So great. Thanks, everybody, for joining us. This was great doing just a small group to brainstorm like this will continue next week. Also on Friday, if you can come to our volunteer group, same time is this where it's like taking on projects. So I think everybody was here except Jonathan and Brenda, if you want to come that, you know, you could actually start thinking about the mediation, you know, project, you know, taking on projects like that or whatever. So thanks, everybody and see you next week.
Well, y'all have a good weekend and due to my schedule, I probably won't be able to make it on Friday but Saturday.
